Santa Monica College – a community college accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – opened in 1929 with just 153 students. It has now grown to a thriving campus with more than 25,000 students and offerings in more than 100 fields of study.

The SMC Art Department is well known as one of the best foundation art programs in the state, where students are regularly recruited and given scholarships by the most prominent art schools in the country. These include Cal Arts, Art Center College of Art and Design, San Francisco Art Institute, the Chicago Art Institute, Rhode Island College of Art and Design and the California College of Arts and Crafts.

Within the Art Department holds The Pete and Susan Barrett Gallery which is a student centered contemporary art gallery located in the heart of Santa Monica, CA. The 2400sq ft space is adjacent to Broad Stage at the Performing Arts Campus of Santa Monica College. Their mission is to create a dynamic gallery experience engaging the community and student body at large. This space is a hub for experiential learning through art, workshops, and campus/citywide activations. SMC is committed to closing equity gaps in higher education and in gallery/museum settings.